Is line 5 of Peeling Away in its correct place?

It is not in its correct place (不當位): a yang line in an even position or a yin line in an odd one, which the tradition reads as a line under some strain — often the reason a text sounds a warning. It is central (中): the middle line of its trigram, the position the commentaries read as balanced and most favourable.

Hexagram 23, line 5

六五Line 5 of Peeling Away

Six in the fifth place · 剝 bō

a string of fishleading the courtfavour without fault

爻辭 The line text

貫魚，以宮人寵，无不利。

The fifth line, divided, shows (its subject leading on the others like) a string of fishes, and (obtaining for them) the favour that lights on the inmates of the palace. There will be advantage in every way.

Its symbolism

以宮人寵，終无尤也。

'He obtains for them the favour that lights on the inmates of the palace:'—in the end there will be no grudge against him.

In plain words

Line five turns the hexagram: 'a string of fish, favour like that of the palace women, nothing unfavourable.' It is the leader of the five yielding lines, central in the upper trigram and nearest to the strong top line, and instead of stripping it, it leads the others up to serve it in order, like fish threaded on a line or the women of the palace presented in turn. The small Image says that in the end there is no fault (終無尤也). 程頤 reads it as the chief of the small people who, by submitting to the one superior, saves both them and himself; yin at its strongest chooses to yield.

If this line is changing

If you have influence over those who are pulling things down, use it to lead them into order rather than further destruction; yielding to what is sound, in sequence and together, turns the whole situation.

Where the line stands

A broken line, yin — written 六 (six), the number of an old yin line that moves when cast.
It is not in its correct place (不當位): a yang line in an even position or a yin line in an odd one, which the tradition reads as a line under some strain — often the reason a text sounds a warning.
It is central (中): the middle line of its trigram, the position the commentaries read as balanced and most favourable.
It belongs to the upper trigram 艮 Gen (Keeping Still) (mountain).
It has no correspondence (無應) with line 2: both lines are yin, so this line must find its support in its neighbours or in itself.

之卦 When this line moves

剝 Peeling Away becomes ䷓ 20 觀 Observation

Wind over the earth: a tower from which all is seen, and which all can see. Observe deeply before acting, and remember that you are watched — sincerity even before the offering is made.

What it becomes20 · 觀 Observationguān

The six lines of 剝 Peeling Away

Read 剝 Peeling Away for a question about

Love and relationships Work and career A yes-or-no decision

Questions about this line

What does Six in the fifth place of hexagram 23, Peeling Away, mean?: Line five turns the hexagram: 'a string of fish, favour like that of the palace women, nothing unfavourable.' It is the leader of the five yielding lines, central in the upper trigram and nearest to the strong top line, and instead of stripping it, it leads the others up to serve it in order, like fish threaded on a line or the women of the palace presented in turn. The small Image says that in the end there is no fault (終無尤也). 程頤 reads it as the chief of the small people who, by submitting to the one superior, saves both them and himself; yin at its strongest chooses to yield.
What does hexagram 23 become when line 5 changes?: Peeling Away becomes hexagram 20, 觀 Observation: Wind over the earth: a tower from which all is seen, and which all can see. Observe deeply before acting, and remember that you are watched — sincerity even before the offering is made.
Is line 5 of Peeling Away in its correct place?: It is not in its correct place (不當位): a yang line in an even position or a yin line in an odd one, which the tradition reads as a line under some strain — often the reason a text sounds a warning. It is central (中): the middle line of its trigram, the position the commentaries read as balanced and most favourable.

Cast a reading Hexagram 23 in full Changing lines explained

Chinese text: the received Zhouyi (Wuyingdian lineage). English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East XVI, 1882 (public domain).